Retractable spike for golf shoe

ABSTRACT

A retractable spike and support assembly for a sport shoe, comprises: A. A RECEPTACLE TO BE CARRIED ON A BASE TO FIT ON THE SHOE, AND B. A SPIKE CARRIED BY THE RECEPTACLE TO SWING BETWEEN RETRACTED POSITION IN WHICH THE SPIKE IS RECEIVED IN THE RECEPTACLE, AND EXTENDED POSITION IN WHICH THE SPIKE PROTRUDES AWAY FROM THE RECEPTACLE INTERIOR FOR GROUND ENGAGEMENT.

United States Patent 1 Louder-milk 1 Feb. 20, 1973 [54] RETRACTABLE SPIKE FOR GOLF SHOE [76] Inventor: Michael R. Loudermilk, 1390 E. Vegas Valley Drive, Las Vegas, Nev. 89109 [22] Filed: April 12, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 133,241

[52] US. Cl ..36/61 [51] Int. Cl ..A43c 15/00 [58] Field of Search ..36/2.5 A, 2.5 R, 61,59 R,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,281,971 11/1966 Weitzner ..36/2.5R

1,160,425 11/1915 Malmstrom ..36/6l 2,182,737 12/1939 Petruzates ..36/6l 3,337,972 8/1967 Stollman et al ..36I61 Primary Examiner-Patrick D. Lawson Attorney-White, Haefliger & Bachand [57] ABSTRACT A retractable spike and support assembly for a sport shoe, comprises:

a. a receptacle to be carried on a base to fit on the shoe, and

b. a spike carried by the receptacle to swing between retracted position in which the spike is received in the receptacle, and extended position in which the spike protrudes away from the receptacle interior for ground engagement.

10 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEUFEBZOW 3.716.931

fNvsA/rag M/CA/QEL R Louaaewuc Zmwi w RETRACTABLE SPIKE FOR GOLF SHOE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to sport shoes, and more particularly concerns retractable spikes for golf shoes.

Golf shoes commonly employ ground engaging spikes which are subject to rapid and objectionable wear when the golfer walks on paved surfaces. Accordingly, there is need for simple means to avoid or reduce such wear. Further, there is need for a spiked golf shoe which can be converted to a spikeless shoe, whereby dual modes of usage of the same shoe may be realized, the golfer then being able to walk in golf club or house interiors without danger of damaging carpets and expensive floors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a major object of the invention to provide a means for fulfilling the above needs, enabling a spiked shoe to be converted to a spikeless shoe without requiring removal of the spikes from the shoe.

Basically, the invention is embodied in a base to fit On the shoe with a receptacle formed on the base; and a spike carried by the base to swing between a retracted position in which the spike is received in the receptacle, and extended position in which the spike protrudes away from the receptacle interior. As will appear, the base may be sized to attach to the underside of the shoe, with multiple of the spikes and receptacles being provided on the base in the form of a flexible metallic plate, and a non-metallic layer such as a leather or rubber sole or heel may cover the plate, with openings to receive the receptacles.

Further, each receptacle may have a closure located to conceal the spike therein in retracted position, the closure being removable to allow pivoting of the spike to extended position. The closure and receptacle may be held together by magnetic retraction, and the closure may contain an opening through which the spike protrudes and is held against pivoting in extended position, a plug on the spike received in the opening when the spike is retracted. A magnet may be constructed to remove the closure from the receptacles and to replace it, before and after pivoting of the spike between its extreme position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following description and drawings, in which:

DRAWING DESCRIPTION FIG. 1 is a perspective showing of a receptacle from which the spike protrudes;

FIG. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1 but showing the spike retracted;

FIG. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the interior of the FIG. 2 assembly;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the spike;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective showing of the receptacle containing a retracted spike, and a magnet;

FIG. 7 is a view like FIG. 6, but with the magnet assembled on the closure;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing magnet removal of the closure from the receptacle, with spike pivoting outward;

FIG. 9 is a perspective showing of the closure being magnetically replaced, with spike protruding;

FIG. 10 is a view like FIG. 9, showing magnet removal;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view showing the application of the invention to a golf shoe heel;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view showing the application of the invention to a golf shoe sole;

FIG. 13 shows a golf shoe to which the invention has been applied, and

FIG. 14 shows a modified removal method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In FIGS. 1-4, a generally rectangular receptacle 10 has side walls 11, end walls 12 and bottom wall 13, the receptacle interior being designated at 14. A spike 15 is carried by the receptacle 10 to swing between retracted position (as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4) in which the spike is received generally horizontally in the receptacle, and extended position (as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3) in which the spike protrudes away from the receptacle interior for ground engagement. Thus, the spike may have a tapered extent 150 and a support part 16 through which pivot pin 17 passes to support the spike for pivoting. Part 16 is curved at 16a to prevent jamming against the bottom wall 13; and, the pin 17 may be journaled in suitable openings 18in the side walls 11.

A closure 19 is located on the receptacle to conceal the retracted spike as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4, the closure being removable to allow pivoting of the spike to extended position as is clear from FIGS. 6-8. Thus, the receptacle walls 11 and 12 may be recessed to provide a ledge 21 to seat the closure, with edge interfit to the walls at and 12a, the closure and receptacle then presenting a flush or common outer surface toward the ground. Also, the receptacle is prevented from slipping off the receptacle sideways, whereby the closure may be removably held to the receptacle simply by magnetic attraction. For this purpose, either or both of the receptacles and closures may consist of magnetic material, as for example Alnico, or magnetically attracted material, such as ferrous metal.

The cover or closure 19 may, with unusual advantage, contain an opening 23 facing or opposite the receptacle interior, and located so that the spike portion 15a projects through the opening in extended position, the closure then blocking pivoting of the extended spike. When the spike is retracted, a plug 24 on the part 16 is received in and fills the opening 23, to prevent access of dIrt and other foreign material to the receptacle interior.

To remove the cover 19 from the receptacle, a magnet 26 may be applied to the cover as is clear from the Sequence of FIGS. 6 and 7; thereafter, the cover may be lifted off the receptacle by the greater magnetic strength or attraction of the magnet, as seen in FIG. 8, which shows the spike 15 also being pivoted outwardly in response to such magnetic attraction exerted by the magnet 26. For this purpose, the spike may be made of ferrous material, as for example stainless steel.

FIG. 9 shows the cover 19 replaced on the receptacle, with the spike received through the opening in the cover. In this regard, the magnet 26 may be U-shaped to pass the spike, as shown. Thereafter, the magnet may be slid sideways and off the cover, as seen in FIG. 10.

FIG. 11 shows a multiplicity of receptacle, spike and cover assemblies, each receptacle carried or affixed on a base which may consist of a think flexible metallic plate to fit on a shoe. The base 30 in FIG. 11 is sized to conform to a shoe heel 31 to which it may be attached as by bonding or nailing. A nonmetallic layer, such as leather or rubber heel part 32, may be attached over the base 30 and bonded thereto or nailed to the heel part 31, layer 32 having openings 33 in which the receptacles interfit, as is clear from FIGS. 11 and 13. The thickness of the layer 33 may correspond to the height of receptacles 10, to form a flush unit.

Likewise, in FIG. 12, the flexible metallic base 40, to which receptacles are attached, is sized to conform to a shoe sole to which it may be attached as by bonding or fastening. A leather sole 41 may be overlayed onto the base 40 with attachment thereto, the sole having openings 42 in which receptacles 10 interfit, as is clear from FIGS. 12 and 13. The thickness of the-sole 41 may correSpond to the height of the receptacles 10 to provide a flush unit.

In FIG. 14, the closure 19 is shown as curveslotted at 50, to receive the hooked end 51 of a key 52, for a simple removal of the closure from the receptacle.

Additional advantages include the fact that the golfer who travels by air will be able to eliminate the extra space and weight of golf shoes, as he can now wear 7 them; also, a golfer will be able to wear rather than carry his golf shoes to and from the driving range.

I claim: 1. A retractable spike and support assembly for a sport shoe, comprising a. a receptacle to be carried on a base to fit on the shoe, b. aspike carried by the receptacle to swing between retracted position in which the spike is received in the receptacle, and extended position in which the spike protrudes away from the receptacle interior for ground engagement, and

. a closure on the receptacle located to conceal the spike therein in said retracted position, the closure being removable to allow pivoting of the spike to extended position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 including the base size to attach to the underside of the shoe and multiple receptacles, closures and spikes as defined are carried by said base.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the base comprises a flexible metallic plate and said multiple receptacles protrude at one side thereof.

4. The assembly of claim 3 including a non-metallic layer covering the base and having openings in which said receptacles are received.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the closure consists of magnetized material attached to the receptacle.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the receptacle consists of magnetized material to which the closure is attracted.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the closure contains an opening facing the receptacle interior, the spike in retracted position having thereon a plug received in said opening, and the spike in extended position pro ecting through said opening and blocked by the closure against pivoting.

8. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the closure and receptacle are retained in assembled relation by magnetic force of attraction, and including a magnet on and attracted to the closure for removing the closure from the receptacle to allow outward pivoting of the spike, and for replacing the closure on the receptacle with the spike extending through an opening in the closure.

9. The assembly of claim 2 including a shoe to the underside of which said base is attached.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the closure is slotted to receive a hook for applying removal force. 

1. A retractable spike and support assembly for a sport shoe, comprising a. a receptacle to be carried on a base to fit on the shoe, b. a spike carried by the receptacle to swing between retracted position in which the spike is received in the receptacle, and extended position in which the spike protrudes away from the receptacle interior for ground engagement, and c. a closure on the receptacle located to conceal the spike therein in said retracted position, the closure being removable to allow pivoting of the spike to extended position.
 1. A retractable spike and support assembly for a sport shoe, comprising a. a receptacle to be carried on a base to fit on the shoe, b. a spike carried by the receptacle to swing between retracted position in which the spike is received in the receptacle, and extended position in which the spike protrudes away from the receptacle interior for ground engagement, and c. a closure on the receptacle located to conceal the spike therein in said retracted position, the closure being removable to allow pivoting of the spike to extended position.
 2. The assembly of claim 1 including the base size to attach to the underside of the shoe and multiple receptacles, closures and spikes as defined are carried by said base.
 3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the base comprises a flexible metallic plate and said multiple receptacles protrude at one side thereof.
 4. The assembly of claim 3 including a non-metallic layer covering the base and having openings in which said receptacles are received.
 5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the closure consists of magnetized material attached to the receptacle.
 6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the receptacle consists of magnetized material to which the closure is attracted.
 7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the closure contains an opening facing the receptacle interior, the spike in retracted position having thereon a plug received in said opening, and the spike in extended position projecting through said opening and blocked by the closure against pivoting.
 8. The assembly of claim 5 wherein the closure and receptacle are retained in assembled relation by magnetic force of attraction, and including a magnet on and attracted to the closure for removing the closure from the receptacle to allow outward pivoting of the spike, and for replacing the closure on the receptacle with the spike extending through an opening in the closure.
 9. The assembly of claim 2 including a shoe to the underside of which said base is attached. 